CHEMNITZ
499 Lancasters and 218 Halifaxes of 1, 3, 4, 6 and 8 Groups to continue Operation Thunderclap. 8 Lancasters and 5 Halifaxes lost.
This raid took place in two phases, 3 hours apart. A very elaborate diversion plan succeeded in keeping bomber casualties down but Chemnitz - now called Karl-Marx-Stadt - was also spared from the worst effects of its first major R.A.F. raid. Both parts of the bomber force found the target area covered by cloud and only sky-marking could be employed. Post-raid reconnaissance showed that many parts of the city were hit but that most of the bombing was in open country. The Stadtarchiv of Karl-Marx-Stadt was unable to provide a local report.
ROSITZ
224 Lancasters and 8 Mosquitoes of 5 Group attacked the oil refinery in this small town near Leipzig. 4 Lancasters were lost. Damage was caused to the southern part of the oil plant.
DIVERSIONARY AND MINOR OPERATIONS
95 aircraft of 3 Group and of Heavy Conversion Units on a sweep into the Heligoland Bight, 46 Mosquitoes to Berlin, 19 to Mainz, 14 to Dessau, 12 to Duisburg, 11 to Nuremberg and 8 to Frankfurt, 21 R.C.M. sorties, 87 Mosquito patrols, 30 Lancasters and 24 Halifaxes minelaying in the Kadet Channel. 5 Halifaxes and 1 Lancaster lost from the minelaying force.
Total effort for the night: 1,316 sorties, 23 aircraft (1.7 percent) lost.
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1 Halifax flew an R.C.M. sortie.
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MINOR OPERATIONS
37 Lancasters and 18 Halifaxes minelaying in Oslo Fjord and the Kattegat, 2 R.C.M. sorties, 6 Mosquito patrols. 1 Mosquito fighter crashed in France.
